Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-17
In COLD BLOOD.
A Chicago Bank President
Ruthlessly Shot
BY HIS YOUTHFUL sTEpsON.
He Is Stricken Down As He De-
scends the Church Steps
After Divine Service.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
CHICAGO, October 16.-In a thronl
of people at the door of one o
the most fashionable churches il
Chicago. grey-haired millionaire
bank President was remorselessly
shot down to- day by his step-son te
avenge or shield woman charged
with continued adultery and the
woman was no less a person than Mrs
Rawson, the wife of the banker shot
and the mother of the assailant. The
banker is Stephen w. Rawson, Presi
dent OF the Union Trust Company, oi
Chicago, and William Lee, aged II, is
his step-son. Banker Rawson, with
five bullets in his body and appar-
emily in
ADYING CONDITION.
Was hastily picked off the blood
spattered curb and friends led him
into one of the score of carriages that
had been waiting for the wealthy
worshippers. Young Lee with the
empty and still smoking revolver in
his hard was as hurriedly thrown into
apolice patrol wagon that came rafting
around the corner, while all around
on the streets and sidewalks gaped
the horror stricken attendants of the
five great churches in the vicinity
who were Just passing out after the
mornings service of Him who COM
manded, f'Thou shalt not kill" and
"Thou shalt not commit adultery" !"
Slowly the crowds began to recover
their dazed senses and recall in detail
the fearful
CIRCUMSTANCES OF TILE CRIME.
Young Lee had been seen for half
an hour previous pacing the stone
sidewalk on Ashland avenue, fronting
the Third Presbyterian Church. This
is the church of which DIR. Withrow.
recently from Boston, is p.' stor, and
which became widely knowll as the
charge of DIR. Kittredge, now located
in New York. ,Of this church, Banker
Rawson has long been a leading light,
and was still an honored member not
withstanding that he has been charged
by his wife with perjury and other Of
lenses. He, on the other hand, al
leges that she, although prominent in
society and a beautiful woman in ap-
pearance, was really disreputable,
blasphemous-tempered adventures,
who
COVETED ONLY HIS MONEY.
For q year or more the two had
been fighting each other in the di-
vorce courts and within the week the
banker has filed against her additional
charges OF adultery. Little attention
was paid to young Lee as he stalked
backward and forward past the
church entrance, and he was lost in
the crowd when the gaily dressed con-
gregation began to come out, among
them the well-known form OF the
bank president. Mr.. Rawson was
about to step to his carriage when
there came the sharp
CRACK OF A REVOLVER,
followed by deep groan. There was
great confusion among the throngs
of men, women and children, and "a
din of screams began, but subsidized al
most instantly. Lee was seen to
quickly but coolly steady his shining
pistol with his left hand, while with
his right he again and again pulled
the fatal trigger. With stiffed cry,
"I'M KILLED."
The aged millionaire fell PROSTATE on
the stone flags, upturning his agon-
lied face at the cold-set countenance
of his step-son. Not till the last OF
the five chambers had been emptied
into the old mans body did Lee seem
TO breathe. The crowd seemed rooted
to the stones in horror and helplesness
till the policemen came running to the
scene. Then began
A WILD CLAMOR,
And Lee, turning to the officers,
hoarsely whispered: "Take me to
iail, quick" 1t seemed scarcely a
moment till the patrol wagon bore him
away.
TENDING THE WOUNDED MAN.
When the dying banker reached his
home six physicians had been called.
They probed for the bullets and found
that all had lodged in his legs and
arms, save one that had entered neal
the small of the back, and as nearly
as could be judged had plunged
through his abdomen. If his life is
saved it will be little short OF a mir
acle.
MRS. RAwsoN INFORMED.
Over at the police station young Lee
asked a reporter to carry Mrs. Rawson
his mother. the news. She occupies
apartments at the Continental Hotel
The reporter sent upword that he had
extremely important business, and
was presented without delay to dark
commissioned, handsome woman in
the prime OF life. -,
"Well, what business have you"
said she.
"Then you have heard nothing Of
your son?"
"No, what is t?'' ,
"Well, he has got into a little
trouble"
eco on. what has he done?"
"Well, he is arrested; he had some
trouble with Mr.. Rawson."
"Go on, and tell me what he has
done; don't keep me in such sus
pense," eagerly spoke the women.
"He shot him, but it isn't serious,
quickly added the reporter, as Mrs
Rawson closed her eyes and tremblee
with excitement. The last portion o
the sentence caused Mrs. Rawson''
eyelids to raise and she brought he
head up with a jerk.
"Oh, don't be alarmed, | am al
right; go on and tell me all"
7'That is about al he shot him sev
eral times" 49,, :.
"And is he dead?" eagerly broke il
the woman again"
"No, but he is probably fatally in
iured. He cannot recover from hi
wounds" n,
Then there was a pause. The re
porter stood and looked at Mrs: Raw
Son while she coolly returned his loo
ri inquiry with slight sneer ON he